HUE CITY (13 Feb 2015) – Vietnam have received 46,000 Ultra Durable Balls courtesy of a collaboration between the AFC and their partners, a move that is set to further boost grassroots football in the ASEAN nation.
The ceremony to donate and distribute the balls was held in Hue City on February 6 and 7 and was attended by the AFC and the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), One World Play Project (OWPP), Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), VFF’s grassroots partner Football for All in Vietnam (FFAV) and General Motors.
The Ultra Durable Balls do not need a pump and never deflate, even when punctured multiple times, making them ideal for play in all types of terrain and harsh environments.
FFAV has already carried out several successful grassroots football and football-based social development programmes in Vietnam, helping the VFF create a pool of talented grassroots players in the process.
FFAV Director Mr Anders Krystad said: “The donation of the Ultra Durable Balls will further elevate and motivate the FFAV to contribute towards grassroots football and social development in Vietnam.
“I’d like to thank the AFC, AFDP, OWPP, VFF and balls donation funding partner General Motors for their trust and contribution.”
Attending the donation and distribution ceremony were VFF Assistant General Secretary Nguyen Minh Chau, FIFA Development Office Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia representative Lim Kim Choon, AFC Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Dr. Annathurai Ranganathan, Norway Ambassador to Vietnam Siren Gjerme Erikson, Chevrolet General Manager for Vietnam Gaurav Gupta, People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province Vice Chairman Nguyen Dung, Department of Education and Training Deputy Director Hoang Duc Binh and the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s representative for Non Governmental Organization Dr. Dang Thanh Phu.
The 46,000 balls were given to 172 clubs, NGOs and other football stakeholders in Vietnam during the ceremony, with the beneficiaries also including disabled children schools in the Hue province.
Director of Hue Hope Center Nguyen Thi Hong thanked the donors and pledged that the balls will be used to promote the involvement of disabled children in the game in Hue.
